Five Tips To Help Downsize Your Closet During Spring Cleaning

With warmer weather fast approaching, many people are rushing to get some spring cleaning done. One place that often needs some cleaning out is closets. As the year goes by, many people add clothes to their closets until they no longer have room for anything else. Spring is the best time to clean out those clothes that no longer bring you joy.  

If you simply need more space to store clothes that aren’t in season or clothes that you aren’t sure what to do with, 10 Federal Storage offers multiple different sizes of storage units that are perfect for clothing, holiday decorations, and more. Getting a storage unit after cleaning out your closet takes the pressure off, so you don’t have to stress about getting rid of extra clothes or sentimental items. Read on for some more tips to help maximize your closet space.

Start with Easy Decisions

It can be hard to know how many clothes is too many. The truth is, it’s up to you to decide. Many clothing items have sentimental value, which can make it difficult to decide what happens to the garments. Those are clothing items you’ll want to push aside to get to in the end. First, start with things that will be easy to part with.  

The best practice is to go through your closet looking for items that are stained, falling apart, extremely faded, or that just don’t fit anymore. These clothes should be items that are easy to remove from your closet. Unless the clothing item is severely stained or has tears in it, you can likely donate unwanted clothes to people who need them. Before you take all your clothes to donate, be sure you check with the specific donation facility to see what their guidelines are.

Create a Sorting System

To make sure that you aren’t mixing clothes that you want to keep with those that are trash or donation you’ll want to create a sorting system. Some places recommend the three boxes method of getting three decent-sized boxes and labeling them as “keep”, “donate”, and “trash”. By the time you empty your closet, your clothes should all be in these three boxes.  

Another way to keep items separated is to place the items in piles, or even different rooms if your space allows. For items you want to keep, leave them in the bedroom while putting trash in the living room and donations in a spare bedroom or home office. Find a way to sort your items that makes sense and works for you.

Dedicate More than One Day, if Necessary

With work, social lives, and other obligations, it can be unrealistic and rather daunting to imagine getting your closet cleanse done in one day. Don’t feel like you have to get it done in one day, one weekend, or any other increment of time. If you need a month to fully clean out your closet, there isn’t anything wrong with that. Work on a timeline that fits your schedule and set a realistic deadline with the number of items you need to go through.  

That said, once you choose a deadline, try to stick with it. Most people don’t enjoy deep cleaning their homes and find it difficult to get started. However, the longer you wait, the more difficult it will become. The sooner you can get it done, the more time you will have to spend with friends or family doing fun things.

Limit Duplicates and Items that Need Accessories

Humans are creatures of habit. Once we find a type of garment that we like, we tend to buy multiple versions of what is essentially the same item. It may be flannel shirts, leather jackets, or even hats. One easy way to clear out closet space is to downsize these “collections,” and pick one or two of your favorites to keep while getting rid of the rest. This doesn’t mean you should get rid of all your sweaters or t-shirts because they are the same, but if you have multiple little black dresses or pairs of slacks, it might be time to get rid of a few of them.  

Along with items that are the same, closet cleanse time is an opportunity to get rid of items that need accessories to complete a look you were going for. For example, if you have a dress that would be so perfect with the right heels, purse, or belt, you may have to face the possibility that you won’t find one that is just right. Even if you do, that limits the range of the clothing item and makes it less likely to be worn. These items should be among the first to go.

Consider Trendy Items and Storage

When you are removing the items from your closet, it is recommended to stand with the item for a moment and think deeply about the item. Consider your past with the item but also look toward the future. The world of fashion is constantly changing. If this is an item that is really in for the minute or has already started to fade, you might have to decide to donate it. If you like a trendy item that has fallen out of fashion and will wear it for a long time, then it should be a keep item.   If you are low on storage space even after you’ve cleaned out your closet, seeking additional storage from a storage facility like 10 Federal Storage may be something to think about.

One way to create more space in your closet is to move seasonal items to storage when you aren’t wearing them. Storage units also make great places to keep the items you want to donate until you have time to find a place to take them and get them there.   Spring is a great time to clean out your closet if you feel you have too many clothes, but it can be a difficult process, especially if you have never done it before. The five tips above help make the process smoother, and placing items in a storage facility can help make your clothing storage issue easier to solve. The hardest part is getting started. So, take these tips and begin going through your closet!